Recommended Posts

A five year old boy from Finland is in a serious condition in hospital after being savaged by a pack of stray dogs on Thailand's Ao Nang beach in Krabi.

The animals went for the little boy's throat and he was covered in blood as his distraught father carried him to an ambulance.

He had ten wounds. He had just gone into the sea to get sand off before going home with his dad and brother.

Doctors said there is a very real fear the boy may have contracted rabies.

It is the latest of many attacks - especially on young children.

Picture: Daily News

The chief of the local administration has said he has tried everything. Now the dogs are set to be cleared off the beach entirely.

Ao Nang in Krabi in the south is one of Thailand's most well known beaches and a mecca for tourists especially those from Scandinavia.

Thaivisa notes that it is only a matter of time before news of attacks like this seriously affect tourism in the area.

Daily News reported that father Appo Nikula, aged about 30, carried his boy to the ambulance after being helped by locals and tourists alike.

A pack of 4 or 5 dogs were still snapping at him as he carried his stricken and bloodied son to safety. The boy had two gashes to his throat, lacerations on his back and bottom and a five centimeter wound on his leg. There were ten injuries after the mauling on Wednesday.

Appo had been with his two children. The five year old had gone back in the sea to get sand off before going back to the hotel. This is when the dogs struck surrounding the screaming five year old.

Doctors at Krabi Nakharin Hospital said they were most worried about two things. The cuts to the central throat area and the possibility the boy has contracted rabies.

He has been given shots and has been admitted and is under close observation.

Local authority chief Phankham Kittithornkun was exasperated with the situation saying that spaying, round-ups and vaccinations had all been tried.

But still people kept leaving their dogs at the beach.

He had ordered more decisive action. A meeting and survey is planned for today that could see all the animals rounded up and homes found for them elsewhere.

He is asking national park authorities for assistance.

He intimated that he is constrained by what he can do due to Thailand's strict animal cruelty laws.

Meanwhile one operator on the beach who was not named told Daily News that many Europeans and Chinese tourists had been attacked on the beach.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

way past time all these strays were destroyed before more people are attacked, there are way too many strays in Thailand including cats. Unfortunately thais get dogs then simply leave them roaming the streets, time for all strays to be picked up and if not claimed destroyed, would also be good to introduce laws making owners responsible for their dogs including big fines if they are found roaming. Big difference between a dog lover and the idiots that dont take care of them or just release them onto the streets

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

This is really terrible and first up, I hope the young lad recovers fully and quickly.

Stray dogs are a serious problem nationwide, and it is well overdue for the authorities to really address the situation permanently, before we have more stories of injured and dead children. And not just in areas where it is likely to affect tourism.

24

5

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

The number of stray dogs in that area has been increasing. The local dog centre has helped with sterilising many of them but still the numbers multiply.This is the 3rd incident like this, in Ao Nang, in as many weeks. Hopefully they will actually do something now.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

At first glance at the OP photo, I thought the two dogs were dead after being shot following this vicious attack. However it looks as though they are merely sleeping.

I am a dog owner, but am completely against this my bpen rai attitude shown by many Thais when it comes to these packs of stray dogs. Simply put, they should be removed from the areas where they congregate and cause a nuisance and euthanized, destroyed, eradicated, killed, call it what you will. Just get rid of the damned problem instead of relocating it

As for the poor lad that they attacked, I hope he recovers fully and is well looked after for this traumatic experience.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Kill the stray dogs. sTop avoiding the crisis that is growing populations of feral dogs. My son was attacked by a dog in our soi. I killed it myself as nobody would deal with it. all the bleeding heaqrts must face the facst that there is not a 'forever home' for every dog and that in this environment they become quite savage. its sad. I am a dog lover but like people some dogs are past helping and the emotional do-gooders who fantasize that there is a loving solution are simply an obstacle to removing a very real danger.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

Cant wait for all the keyboard warriors who criticized the security guard for shooting the biting dog the other day to justify this one...

Poor kid. Hope he recovers well

I critisized the guard for shooting a puppy that had done nothing. This however is a totally different situation where the dogs are proven to be a danger. Two totally different situations.

I would also not condone it if people without care and a license to carry a gun would start shooting in public. I am not an American so I don't like guns and see the dangers with idiots handeling guns.

A culling of problem dogs by professionals is a good thing, the shooting of a puppy that was not a problem dog (excuse of the guy shooting the dog) by a guy with no license and an illegal gun in a public place is a problem.

Share this post

Link to post

Share on other sites

I spent a week in the area a few years ago with several days at or around the beach. Never saw a single dog. But things change from time to time. Best wishes for this unfortunate little tyke.

I wonder how TAT will counter this very bad press.

Was there last month, Ao Nang Beach has at least 12-15 wilds dogs sitting around and coming to you in a not so friendly way.... the other beach No Pharat Thara on a daily basis has around 20 wild dogs as well, never saw a guard or local shop owner and park ranger pushing them away, saw/heard them barking and jumping into people and mostly going towards small kids trying to grab their food